Back to School, Back to Impact with Target Circle Votes

The back-to-school season is filled with energy, excitement, and the promise of a fresh start. For many girls, it’s a time to reconnect with friends, dive into new subjects, and begin dreaming bigger about who they want to become.

At Play Like a Girl, we believe that every girl should start the school year feeling confident, curious, and connected. But not every student has access to the mentors, programs, or opportunities that make that possible.

That’s where you and your next Target run come in.

Vote for Confidence, Curiosity, and Career Dreams

This fall, we’re thrilled to be a featured nonprofit in the Target Circle Community Giving Program. From now through September 30, Target shoppers like you can earn and cast votes that directly support Play Like a Girl’s free STEM education and mentorship programs.

“I never liked STEM until Play Like a Girl.” – Jazmine, 8th grader

Your votes help us provide impactful programs with inspiring real-life role models and hands-on learning experiences that prepare girls for the classroom and beyond. These programs not only level the playing field, they inspire future scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

The Back-to-School Challenges Girls Face

We work primarily with middle school girls, an age when confidence often plummets, especially in STEM subjects. Research shows that:

• • Girls’ interest in STEM starts to drop around age 11
  • Only 28% of the STEM workforce is made up of women
  • Confidence, not ability, is the leading factor holding girls back

Our solution? Meet girls where they are in schools, in their neighborhoods, and even in locker rooms and on the field.

With your votes, we can:

• • Deliver back-to-school STEM kits filled with supplies and inspiration
  • Launch new STEM clubs in under-resourced schools
  • Provide mentorship through our 12-week confidence-building curriculum
  • Fund sports-based leadership programs to develop teamwork, grit, and resilience 

How to Cast Your Vote in Target Circle

Here’s how to support girls through your Target shopping:

1. 1. Join Target Circle for free: target.com/circle or in the Target app
   2. Shop in-store or online—each purchase earns you votes
   3. Vote for Play Like a Girl in the Community Giving section of your profile

💡 Can’t find us listed? We’re featured in the Alabama Northern market. Simply change your ZIP code to 37067 (Cool Springs, TN) or 35601 (Decatur, AL) in the app to vote for Play Like a Girl.

Vote now at Target.com/Circle »

A Vote for One Girl Helps Many

When you vote for Play Like a Girl, your support goes further than a single classroom. It fuels a national movement that brings STEM mentorship and inspiration to thousands of girls across the country. In the past few months alone:

• • We served over 3,000 girls in five cities
  • 92% of participants reported increased confidence in STEM
  • We launched a new tech-centered flag football field day and mentoring program in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks and Amazon Web Services
  • 100% of our scholarship recipients went on to pursue college-level STEM studies at HBCUs 

These outcomes are possible thanks to our generous donors, partners—and voters like you.

Want to see the difference your votes make? Just look at girls like Naomi, who attended her first summer camp this July.

“I learned how to code and ask critical questions. I was nervous to speak at first, but my mentor told me I could lead the demo. And I did!”

Naomi is now connected and plans to enroll in our mentoring program at her school this year. She’s just 12 years old and already leading with confidence.

Rally Your Circle to Support Ours

Please spread the word. Share this opportunity with friends and co-workers. Post it in your group chat, alumni board, or your company newsletter. Add a note to your next PTA meeting or back-to-school event.

     📸 Tag us @iplaylikeagirl in your #TargetRun on social media

     📤 Forward this blog to your network

     💬 Tell your employer’s ERG or CSR team about this simple way to give back

Together, we can make this a back-to-school season to remember for every girl with a big dream and the courage to chase it.

Your Target vote may seem small, but the ripple effect is huge. Each click supports girls who are just getting started on their journey and who may one day lead the companies, classrooms, or communities you care about.

🎯 Vote Now

Thank you for helping Play Like a Girl build a world where girls are ready for any field—this fall, and forever.